By: Isatou Sarr
A coalition of three pressure groups Tuesday jointly condemned the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) over its recent imposition of a D50 per GB minimum data price.
Edward Francis Small Center for Rights and Justice (EFSCRJ), Gambians Against Looted Assets (GALA), and Team Gom Sa Bopa called PURA’s move as “anti-consumer and lacking transparency.”
At a press conference held at Alliance Française yesterday, the coalition decried the violent disruption of their peaceful protest on August 22, 2025, where 44 youths were arrested at PURA’s headquarters while attempting to submit a petition against the price hike.
According to Omar Saibo, the peaceful gathering aimed to read a petition and gather signatures, but was abruptly shut down by security forces led by PIU Commander Lamin Sarr. The arrested individuals were detained for up to six days, with some held at Mile II Central Prison. The petition has since moved online and garnered over 1,000 signatures.
The coalition argued that PURA’s price floor has increased the cost of mobile data by up to 275%, eliminating competitive low-cost bundles previously offered by GSM operators. This, they say, threatens digital access for low-income Gambians, students, and small businesses.
“PURA’s mandate is to protect consumers, not corporate profits,” said Saibo. “Instead, it has made internet access less affordable without any guarantee of improved quality.”
They demand PURA publish its cost model and the “African average” benchmark it claims guided the price floor documents, which remain undisclosed.
More so, they say the policy is harmful as it leads to digital exclusion, which increases data costs, threatens access for rural communities, students, and the poor. It is harmful because it causes educational setbacks, as many students rely on affordable data for research and e-learning, among other things.
The coalition also criticized the High-Level Committee on Telecom Pricing recently established by President Barrow, noting the absence of a clear timeline and past failures to act on similar committee recommendations.
Yusuf Taylor stressed, “While we welcome the committee’s formation, we caution against using it as a delay tactic. The price floor must be suspended immediately, and a price ceiling must be considered to protect consumers.”
Fatou Ndure called for all charges against the 44 arrested youths to be dropped, citing constitutional violations, including failure to arraign them within 72 hours. She condemned the detentions as unlawful and politically motivated. “We demand justice for the 44 youths and accountability from PURA. Silencing dissent undermines democracy,” she concluded.
The coalition urged citizens to remain vigilant and called on the government to uphold its constitutional and international human rights obligations.
